Jones undecided about NBA but Vaughn's leaving early

Duke point guard Tyus Jones said Wednesday that he hasn't decided whether he will return to school for one more season or enter the NBA draft.

Jones, a freshman, said he will consult with his family and coaches before making his announcement. The Apple Valley product was the star of the NCAA title game Monday night, scoring 23 points in Duke's 68-63 win over Wisconsin.

"I don't have a timeline," Jones said by phone. "I'm just going to take it slowly and weigh both options. Ultimately just make the right and smart decision."

Various mock drafts project Jones to be selected in the lower half of the first round, if he declares. The website NBAdraft.net projects him to go No. 17 to Milwaukee in its latest mock draft.

"I'll sit down with my family, sit down with my coaches and talk about everything and get as much information as possible," Jones said.

Chip Scoggins

Feed Loader

Rashad Vaughn

Vaughn leaving early

UNLV freshman Rashad Vaughn, a former Cooper star, announced he will declare for the NBA draft. The 6-6 guard led the Rebels in scoring at 17.6 points per game.

Vaughn's only season in Las Vegas was cut short, though. He tore cartilage in his left knee Feb. 10 and missed the Rebels' last nine games.

Despite missing seven regular-season conference games, Vaughn was named the Mountain West's freshman of the year after reaching double figures in scoring in 21 of 23 games and shooting 38 percent from three-point range. He has been projected as a second-round pick.

NCAA: Refs impatient

NCAA vice president of men's basketball Dan Gavitt said the referees Monday night in the national championship game had access to television replays on a crucial play in the last two minutes but already had decided to give the ball to Duke when CBS showed a magnified view of the play.

The NCAA tournament head says the referees should have been a little more "patient" before making the ruling after Wisconsin's Bronson Koenig missed a layup with 1:54 left and the Badgers trailing 63-58.

In a scramble for the rebound, the referees initially ruled it went off a Wisconsin player even though replays appeared to show the ball was clearly touched by a Duke play. But the call was not reversed, and the Blue Devils went on to win 68-63.

Duke fans can buy floor

Duke fans soon will be able to purchase sections of the floor on which the Blue Devils won this year's NCAA title.

The university is in the final stages of talks to purchase the 140- by 70-foot maple floor used last weekend in Indianapolis. It's undetermined whether the university will buy it outright or with the help of a third party, and the price — more than the roughly $100,000 paid by previous winners — still is being negotiated.

Etc.

•Michigan guard Spike Albrecht faces four to five months of rehab after having surgery on his right hip. Albrecht started 18 games last season, averaging 7.5 points.

•Notre Dame junior Jewell Loyd declared herself eligible for the WNBA draft, and could be the No. 1 pick this year.